Alternator issue

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (feral4mr2)

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 10:48:27 GMT

any alternator will work on any vehicle if it mounts up and pulley offset is correct, you just gotta have the wiring correct.
i've used alternators off v6 camry for the aw11 many times, now a 20v that has a different plug (squished oval type instead of round), i just used crimp connectors to give the 3 pins what they need to work.

check that the main charge wire back to the pos battery post has continuity, the fuse able link could have blown. i usually just replace the whole line with a good quality multistrand 8 gauge wire.

check that the plug with 3 pins is correct for the pins on the alt itself. (most toyota's have the same plug to pin orientation though). you can test those with a multimeter or test light.

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (MG_MR2)

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 00:07:18 GMT

In short:

The 100 amp alternators (predominantly JDM MR2s due to electric power steering) are notoriously difficult to find in Australia meaning when they fail your basically left with the only option being a reconditioned unit. Half the issue with that is reconditioning/rebuilding (particularly electrical) components is a dying trade.

The crux of this is what readily available alternator (from a different vehicle) will fit and work in an MR2.

Based on Xmr2 and 92 Hard Top it seems the Lancruiser alternator will work.

There's obviously a number of factors regarding an alternator fitting and working. Being the alternator is 110 amp is also obviously ideal (very close to the oem 100 amp).

The most obvious required change will be the pulley but as long as shaft diameters etc are the same its a matter of a rattle gun on the nut, pulling off pulley and putting on MR2 pulley, rattle gun on.

The other obvious issue is the plug but from what I can see the factory plug should work (or a simple adapter plug i.e. round plug to oval plug).

With all of that said, I'm leaning to picking one up to put all the above to the test, install it myself and test it.

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (Dudeman)

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 23:12:48 GMT

Can one of you guys explain this in one post in a basic way as possible so numpties like me (who have alternator dramas) can understand what the solution is please?

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (92 Hard Top)

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 21:07:28 GMT

MG_MR2
92 Hard Top: that does sound like good option. I'm away at the moment so hard to look into it but I'll see if you can confirm this:

So the mounting bracket is the right size? & the pivot hole will take the mr2 adjustment bolt?

I understand the pulley will have to be changed but is the shaft diameter correct for MR2 pulley?

Is the B terminal (the thread that sticks out of the alternator from the regulator) the correct size for the mr2 fitting?

I see the LC unit has an oval plug, is that plug and play with the mr2 harness? (I have round plug obviously but have an oval plug adapter)

Thanks

Yes they are, Auto Electricians don't want you to know this. So they can charge you more. Because you Said JDM MR2.

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (MG_MR2)

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 20:50:33 GMT

92 Hard Top: that does sound like good option. I'm away at the moment so hard to look into it but I'll see if you can confirm this:

So the mounting bracket is the right size? & the pivot hole will take the mr2 adjustment bolt?

I understand the pulley will have to be changed but is the shaft diameter correct for MR2 pulley?

Is the B terminal (the thread that sticks out of the alternator from the regulator) the correct size for the mr2 fitting?

I see the LC unit has an oval plug, is that plug and play with the mr2 harness? (I have round plug obviously but have an oval plug adapter)

Thanks

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (Xmr2)

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 12:40:22 GMT

This is great news for anyone looking to change their altenator...and in my case i can report it works like charm.

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (92 Hard Top)

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 11:22:42 GMT

Just buy this It fit perfect. Swap pullies, Which a Auto Electrician shop can do. Cost me nothing last time I did it. Your problem solved.
Alternator Code Alt00255.
Comes of a land cruiser 90-04 1hz, 1hdt, 4.2ltr diesel
110 amp.

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (MG_MR2)

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:12:48 GMT

Yeah that's an option, the ones I have are oem cores I believe so I'm planning on having them bench tested and rebuilt if need be.

Xmr2 - does appear it's LC mate. Punch 'ATG312 alternator' in Google. That A-14 number which is then covered by 'void if removed' sticker (funnily enough) would confirm it. I think it's pretty interesting because in all my research/googling, I haven't seen anyone write about using different alternator which I found strange because that's pretty common in older cars with hard to replace items

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (Mrskylighter)

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 23:13:29 GMT

Could you purchase a used known working alternator from one of the MR2 wreckers in the country? Then either fit it as is or have it serviced/refreshed by auto sparky.

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (Xmr2)

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 22:56:00 GMT

All good mate... Let us know if it is a LC altenator as i did quick google search and didn't find anything.

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (MG_MR2)

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 22:22:09 GMT

Legend Xmr2, I wasn't going to ask you to try because I know it's a pain, thanks very much for doing that

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (MG_MR2)

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 22:20:55 GMT

It''s a forum to assist each other, your original post came across quite angry and condescending from the onset

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (Xmr2)

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 22:20:40 GMT

After trying like 50 times in the dark under the car i managed to take some shots of the serial numbers of my supposedly LC altenator.. Hope this can be helpful to someone

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (Guest)

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 21:34:35 GMT

MG MR2 - you don’t appreciate the info, then I will remove to ensure I don’t assist. Expand all you will, of your credentials and knowledge, continue on your path.

Re: Alternator issue driving me crazy.... (MG_MR2)

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 20:30:58 GMT

TonyMR2: thanks for the reply, don't quite appreciate the sentiment and while I could expand on some of the things you said, I won't.

Xmr2: very interesting you say that, I was actually really hopeful of finding information like that but from all my research I never found a conclusive "an alternator from XXXXX will fit and work in an MR2" and I simply didn't have the time/ability to play around with combinations. Looking at some photos the LC unit actually doesn't look that dissimilar other than possibly changing pulleys